PORTLAND, Pa. (WLVT) - Arthur Kardos got in his car Monday morning to drive the short distance to what used to be Cramer's Lumber Yard for decades. The property on Delaware Avenue had been in the borough for 100 years, and Portland Steel has called it home since it took over.
A fire Sunday night at the property destroyed much of the property. It's been the talk of the Slate Belt since.
"It's a total loss," Kardos said.
"It was scary actually seeing how big it could get," added Michelle Frey, a Bangor resident who works at the Dunkin' right next to Portland Steel.
The state fire marshal's office spent Monday looking around the property to determine where the fire started and its cause.
"It was huge when I saw pictures, and knowing it was the last Cramer's before it was the factory was kind of sad," Frey said.
"That whole one building, the front building, the one they use the most -- that's completely gone," Kardos said.
He owns Portland Antiques & Collectibles a block away from the fire. He lives in the apartment above his store. He said losing Portland Steel means losing the latest business in downtown Portland.
"We're isolated here in this town," he said. "It doesn’t even pay to stay open anymore because you got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 buildings that are empty."
Mayor Lance Prator was out-of-town Monday, but he told PBS39 over the phone that losing any building is tragic, especially in a borough with just 519 residents. Residents say Portland used to buzz with activity, but now, the town is struggling to attract visitors.
"I don't know what's happening in this town, but we don't draw a crowd," Kardos said. "The sidewalks are always bare.”
"It's kind of sad, because we already lost a lot," Frey added. "The train station over there, and we had a couple buildings go to fire in the past -- and we lost the bagel place."
Prator said PNC Bank is closing in march, and while the future of Portland Steel is unclear, locals say the town needs a way to bounce back.
"I'm losing money here. It costs me money to live here, because it's a business and my taxes are high," Kardos said. "I'm getting too old to do anything else. I'm 94 years old.”
PBS39 will share any updates regarding the investigation when details become available.